--- description: Facebook plans to launch a standalone app that will allow users to mask their online identity, according to two company insiders who have also asked to remain anonymous. title: Facebook to Grant Users Anonymity in Standalone App image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Facebook Reportedly Building a New App Where Everyone's Anonymous  by [Dan Kedmey](/author/dan-kedmey/)  ## Dan Kedmey Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 7, 2014 6:22 PM CUT  by [Dan Kedmey](/author/dan-kedmey/)  ## Dan Kedmey Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 7, 2014 6:22 PM CUT Facebook plans to launch a standalone app that will allow users to mask their online identity, according to two anonymous company insiders speaking to the New York _Times._ The two insiders, who [divulged](http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/facebook-readies-app-allowing-anonymity/?%5Fphp=true&%5Ftype=blogs&%5Fr=0 "undefined") the plans to the _Times_ on the condition of anonymity, said that the yet-unnamed app will allow users to sign up under a pseudonym, letting them engage in more candid discussions than they might otherwise have in public. The report comes amid fallout from Facebook’s decision to [boot](http://time.com/3453317/facebook-profiles-lgbt/ "undefined") several drag queens from the network for violating its naming policies by identifying themselves by their alter-egos rather than their birth names. Facebook quickly [apologized](https://time.com/3453317/facebook-profiles-lgbt/ "undefined") for that move following intense backlash from several LGBT groups and other advocates. Facebook’s anonymous app project is reportedly being spearheaded by Josh Miller, who heads the company’s “Conversations” group. Miller’s previous startup, Branch, attempted to foster intimate online discussions around shared interests. Facebook [acquired](https://www.facebook.com/joshamiller/posts/10151916252911547 "undefined") Branch in January. \[[_NYT_](http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/facebook-readies-app-allowing-anonymity/?%5Fphp=true&%5Ftype=blogs&%5Fr=0 "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3478737/facebook-anonymous/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3478737/facebook-anonymous/"},"headline":"Facebook Reportedly Building a New App Where Everyone's Anonymous","datePublished":"2014-10-07T18:22:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:03:21.085Z","description":"The plan marks a departure from company policy to have users disclose their identities or risk being booted from the network","url":"https://time.com/3478737/facebook-anonymous/","keywords":["Tech","apps","facebook","Rumors","Social Networking"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Dan Kedmey","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/dan-kedmey/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3478737/facebook-anonymous/","name":"Facebook Reportedly Building a New App Where Everyone's Anonymous"}}]}] ```